Best budget tablets

With companies releasing new tablets all the time, it’s hard to settle on one, let alone find one that’s not too costly for what you’re wanting to use it for. Maybe you just want it to be able to play your kids’ favorite apps, or maybe you’re simply looking for something to stream Netflix on, read your favorite e-books, or even just to compile your meeting notes.

Whatever the case, we’ve compiled this list of our favorites for under $200 (and some under $100!). Some are geared toward gaming, others toward reading, and the rest will work for everything in between! They make the best gifts for kids and adults, or even if you’re buying for yourself!

At just $50, the Amazon Fire is a hot sell. Being so cheap, it’s a great gift for kids. This tablet isn’t ideal for work, but it’s perfect for playing games like Angry Birds, Township, The Room saga, and more. It’s also serves the purpose perfectly if you’re looking for a simple e-reader.

Amazon Fire HD 10

Launched

September 17, 2015

Release

November 2015

Display

7-inch (1024x600) IPS LCD

Processor

Quad-core

RAM

1GB

Storage

8GB / 16GB with microSD card slot

Rear Camera

2MP

Front Camera

VGA

Battery

N/A (non-removable)

Charging

micro-USB

Sound

Rear-facing stereo speakers

Software

Fire OS 5

Connectivity

Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

Sensors

Ambient, proximity, accelerometer

Measurements

191 x 115 x 10.6mm

Weight

313g

Colors

Black

The Fire tablet is as good as it gets when it comes to budget units. More often than not, you’ll find a $50 tablet to easily crack after a drop on the floor, and sometimes, many cheap tablets are loaded with malware, as they usually end up coming from some strange brand. That’s what makes the Fire tablet it good sell: you’re getting a reliable unit straight from Amazon that can play all of the latest apps, games and movies. Not only that, but as we mentioned earlier, it makes for a great e-reader as well.

The SHIELD Tablet K1 is a tablet geared towards gaming. In fact, thanks to NVIDIA GRID and the powerful hardware inside the tablet, it’s essentially like a small, portable, touchscreen PC. With GRID and the SHIELD Tablet K1, you can stream all of your favorite PC games from almost anywhere. What sets this tablet apart is truly it’s focus on gaming. In most cases, streaming PC games just isn’t widely available on Android. If it is, it just doesn’t work as well as it needs to. That’s why the SHIELD Tablet K1 is so loved — you’re getting not only a powerful tablet but something where you can take PC gaming on the go as well.

You can hook up a controller and play your favorite PC games wherever you are through NVIDIA’s game streaming service called GRID. And with the awesome amount of accessories available for the NVIDIA Shield tablet, you can continually be improving your experience.

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1

Launched

November 17, 2015

Release

November 2015

Display

8-inch (1920x1200) IPS LCD

Processor

NVIDIA Tegra K1

RAM

2GB

Storage

16GB with microSD card slot

Rear Camera

5MP

Front Camera

5MP

Battery

5200mAh (non-removable)

Charging

micro-USB

Sound

Front-facing stereo speakers

Software

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Connectivity

NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n

Sensors

Ambient, proximity, accelerometer, compass, gyro

Measurements

221 x 126 x 9.2mm

Weight

356g

Colors

Black

The SHIELD Tablet K1 also has a ton of awesome accessories. Many don’t like using on-screen controls to play PC games, and that’s why NVIDIA offers its own controller with the SHIELD Tablet K1. Not only that, but there are other great accessories as well. Do you travel a lot? In that case, the SHIELD World Charger is an excellent package, providing you with charging solutions for all different regions. Or, maybe you’re an artist or just someone who likes to draw/design. That’s why NVIDIA offers the SHIELD Directstylus2, giving you the ability to draw with precision.

Looking for affordable and high quality at the same time? Look no further than the ASUS ZenPad 8, priced just under $200. This tablet is built to last, so you can buy it on a budget with the ease of knowing you won’t have to replace it for awhile.

ASUS ZenPad 8 (Z380KL)

Launched

June 2015

Release

July 2015

Display

8-inch (1280x800) IPS LCD

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 / 415

RAM

1GB / 2GB

Storage

8GB / 32GB with microSD card slot

Rear Camera

5MP

Front Camera

2MP

Battery

4000mAh (non-removable)

Charging

micro-USB

Sound

Front-facing speakers

Software

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with ZenUI

Connectivity

Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

Sensors

Ambient, proximity, accelerometer, compass

Measurements

209 x 123 x 8.5mm

Weight

350g

Colors

Black, White, Aurora Metallic

What makes the ZenPad 8 so special? ASUS realizes that entertainment like movies and TV is important to many people, and that’s what they built the ZenPad 8’s display in mind with. It may only have a 1280×800 resolution, but ASUS has included a lot of its own proprietary technologies to make it beautiful. For instance, ASUS VisualMaster creates a rich and vivid watching experience through hardware and software optimization that creates the perfect balance of contrast, sharpness, color, clarity, and brightness. ASUS’ Tru2Life technology uses the latest image processing technology found on most high-end TVs to bring you the most realistic image possible.

The ZenPad 8 might be a cheap tablet, but make no mistake: it’ll perform almost just as well as any high-end tablet on the market.

The Nexus 7 (2013) is an oldie but still a goodie! Yes, it might be three years old at this point, but it’s still equipped with some really great hardware. Not only that, but it’s the only version of the Nexus 7 that got the Marshmallow upgrade when that landed late last year.

What’s the Nexus 7 (2013) good for? Just about anything. Whether you want to game, browse the web, watch movies or even read a book, the Nexus 7 (2013) will handle it without any issue. It also, even for today’s standards, has an incredible display at Full HD resolution. This makes watching media and reading books a pleasant experience, which is something you won’t find on many older tablets.

NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1

Launched

July 2013

Release

July 2013

Display

7-inch (1920x1200) IPS LCD

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro

RAM

2GB

Storage

16GB / 32GB with microSD card slot

Rear Camera

5MP

Front Camera

1.2MP

Battery

3950mAh (non-removable)

Charging

micro-USB

Sound

Rear-facing speakers

Software

Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Connectivity

NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n

Sensors

Ambient, proximity, accelerometer, compass, gyro

Measurements

200 x 114 x 8.7mm

Weight

290g

Colors

Black, White

When buying a Nexus 7 (2013), it’s important to make the distinction between it and its older brother, the Nexus 7 (2012). You don’t want the 2012 version at all–it breaks easy, has a lot of problems, and didn’t make the cut for the Marshmallow update. That said, the 2013 version is easily distinguished by its rear camera, as the 2012 variant never had one.

It’s also important to do some shopping around. You’ll find some stores selling the Nexus 7 (2013) for as much as a whopping $500. However, you’ll find it available at other stores for as low as $80. That said, make sure to do your research before pulling the trigger!

Maybe you’re struggling with the idea of buying a budget tablet, as you’re wanting some of the better options out there, such as the Galaxy Tab S2 or Nexus 9. Well, there’s no need to worry about that when it comes to the Galaxy Tab A. This tablet is on par with many of the high-end tablets out there, and even outperforms some of them when it comes to the display and battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A (8.0)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A (9.7)

Launched

March 2015

March 2015

Release

May 2015

May 2015

Display

8-inch (1024x768) TFT

9.7-inch (1024x768) TFT

Processor

Quad-core

Quad-core

RAM

1.5GB / 2GB

1.5GB / 2GB

Storage

16GB / 32GB with microSD card slot

16GB / 32GB with microSD card slot

Rear Camera

5MP

5MP

Front Camera

2MP

2MP

Battery

4200mAh (non-removable)

6000mAh (non-removable)

Charging

micro-USB

micro-USB

Sound

Bottom-facing speakers

Bottom-facing speakers

Software

Android 5.0 Lollipop

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Connectivity

Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n

Bluetooth 4.1, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n

Sensors

Ambient, proximity, accelerometer, compass, gyro

Ambient, proximity, accelerometer, compass, gyro

Measurements

208.3 x 137.9 x 7.4mm

242.5 x 166.8 x 7.5mm

Weight

313g

450g

Colors

Smoky Titanium, Smoky Blue, White

Smoky Titanium, Smoky Blue, White

The Galaxy Tab A will only set you back around $170 while providing you with an immense amount of value. It comes in two different models. The smaller 8-inch unit has a 4200mAh battery, while the larger 9.7-inch model has a much heftier 6000mAh battery. Both of these options will give you plenty of time to use it on battery.

It has some mid-range specifications, yes. But these are specs you normally wouldn’t see in a $170 package. The Galaxy Tab A is reliable, high quality, and perfect for on the go use. You can’t go wrong here!

Closing

All of the tablets on this list have a bunch of unique factors, which can make it difficult to choose just one. But, rest assured, there’s something for everybody here! If you’re looking for a tablet to start your kids out on, then the Amazon Fire is the perfect route to go. But, maybe you’re looking for something high-quality for your own entertainment. In that case, the ASUS ZenPad 8 or Galaxy Tab A are both great options. On the other hand, maybe you’re a person looking for something that can handle some on-the-go gaming. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with the SHIELD Tablet K1.

Have you tried any of these tablets out yet? What’s your favorite budget-level tablet? Let us know in the comments section below.

Brad is a tech enthusiast, writing and tinkering with all things technology since 2011. He currently bounces between the LG G3 and his beloved Moto X! His interests include reading, entrepreneurship, the gym, and of course, queso.

The 2013 Nexus 7 has a higher resolution screen then the Amazon Fire. Its specs are better then most 7 and 8 inch tablets. I have one and it still works well. Unfortunately, because it is 3 years old it probably will not get Android 7.0